Two Terrorists Killed, 20 Suspects Detained in Iraq

American Forces Press Service

June 26, 2007 – Coalition forces killed two terrorists and detained two suspects during operations today targeting al Qaeda in Iraq leaders and their bombing network. Coalition forces raided four buildings in different areas. Forces killed one and detained one in an operation southwest of Baghdad targeting a senior terrorist leader known to supply vehicles and other components for car bombs.

In Mosul, coalition forces targeted an al Qaeda in Iraq military commander responsible for improvised explosive device emplacements there. During the raid, the suspect was killed.

Forces raided two buildings east of Bayji searching for associates of a known al Qaeda leader. One suspect was detained there.

In other recent operations in Iraq:

-- Soldiers with the 2nd Infantry Division's 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team detained six insurgents during Operation Council Grove II yesterday in an eastern section of the Iraqi capital. The 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, based out of Fort Riley, Kan., conducted raids in the Kamaliyah neighborhood.

-- Multinational Division Baghdad soldiers northwest of Taji captured three suspected insurgents believed to be responsible for several IED attacks. Soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Brigade Combat Team conducted an air assault operation into a rural area northwest of Taji, capturing the three suspected insurgents and recovering small arms weapons.

-- Iraqi army forces detained two suspected al Qaeda cell leaders during an operation June 24 south of Baghdad. The two detainees are suspected of involvement in IED attacks on Iraqi and coalition forces, death squad activities against local civilians, housing foreign fighters and transporting weapons. They confiscated weapons and a large amount of currency at the scene.

-- Soldiers participating in Operation Crazyhorse Thunder detained seven suspects for allegedly planting IEDs along Route Tampa, the highway leading into Baghdad, June 23. Soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division's 1st Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, targeted a cell based in the Abu Shiekan and Abu Hillan villages believed to be responsible for setting IEDs several times a week along the highway.

(Compiled from Multinational Force and Multinational Corps Iraq releases.)